Mechanical golf practice apparatus



Oct. 27, 1953 F. w. SONNETT 2,656,720

MECHANICAL GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 19,61

Fig. 3.

F re deric/r Will/am Sonne fr INVENTOR.

Atlmqs Patented Oct. 27, 1.953

MECHANICAL GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Frederick William Sonnett, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Application January 29, 1951, Serial No. 203,270

The present invention relates to improvements in recreational practice apparatus and more particularly to a device which provides a means for practicin golf driving.

. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical golf practice apparatus having signal and indicating means associated therewith whereby the distance and direction that the ball would have traveled can be indicated upon striking the ball.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel means for indicating when a slice or hook has been struck.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide such means that are simple in construction, economical of manufacture and readily stored.

The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a detailed perspective view of the entire apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical view taken substantially along the plane of line 22; and,

Figure 3 is an electrical circuit means which is employed in conjunction with the structure of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral l designates generally the housing structure, the numeral l2 designates generally the ball means, the numeral l4 indicates the indicating means, while the numerals 16 and I8 designate generally the switch and signal means respectively.

The housing Ill is comprised of a base board 2! having a hollow, rectangular, open-bottomed housing 22 mounted thereon. The open-bottomed housing 22 has upstanding side walls 24, end walls 25 and a top wall 253. The topwall 28 is formed with an enlarged opening 30 having an elongated slot 32 extending longitudinally therefrom. The upper wall 28 is also formed with a pair of openings 34 and 35 having glass plates 38 and 48 disposed therein. The glass plates 38 and 40 may be of different colored glass for a rea son to be hereinafter explained.

The ball means i2 is comprised of a ball shaped element 42 with a coil spring M having an end portion 46 extending axially therefrom for insertion through the ball 42. The upper end 43 of the wire portion id is flattened for retaining the ball 42 against the upper end of the coiled portion of the spring 4 3. The bottom end of the coil spring 44 is secured to the arcuate shell l which is in turn fixedly secured to the base 20.

2 Claims. (Cl. 73-379) The indicating means 14 is comprised of a cable 52 which extends over a small pulley 54 disposed within the shell 50, an end portion of the cable 52 being secured to the underside of the ball 42 at 55. A pair of intermediate pulleys 58 and 63 are supported by the end wall 26 and base 20, respectively, and have an intermediate portion 62 of the cable 52 passing thereover. The opposite end 64 of the cable 52 has an indicator element 66 secured thereto for reciprocation in the slot 32.

As seen best in Figure l, indicia means 68 are inscribed on the upper surface of the top wall 28 and along the edges of the slot 32, whereby when the indicator element 66 reaches predetermined positions in the slot 32, the various distances that the ball 42 would have traveled had it been free are indicated.

A switch means [6 is comprised of a pivot bracket in which is substantially of U-shape and has its legs terminating in angulated portions 12 whereby screws 14 may be employed for securing the bracket Hi to the base 20. A flexible lever element 16 is supported by the bight portion 18 1 of the bracket 10, rivet pins 80 being employed for supporting the lever element l5. Secured on the base and in spaced relation are a pair of contact elements 82 which underlie end portions of the lever element 16.

A signal means I8 is comprised of a pair of lamps 84 which are disposed beneath the glass plates 38 and for illuminating the same. The housing Ill is also provided with a source of electrical power such as the dry cell 85 which is sup ported to the under surface of the upper wall 28 by means of the brackets 88.

As seen best in Figure 3, each of the lamps 84 is connected to a preselected one of the pair of contacts 82 whereby when a preselected one of the contact elements 82 is engaged by an end portion of the lever 16, a circuit will be completed with a preselected one of the lamps 84 for indicating whether a slice or hook has been struck.

When it is desired to practice driving golf balls with the present apparatus, one merely has to take a conventional golf club and strike the ball 42. The ball 42 will be resiliently outwardly urged from the shell against the tension of the spring M, thereby exerting a pull on the cable 52 and causing the indicator element to traverse a predetermined distance in the slot 32 indicating the distance that th ball would have traveled if free. The ball 42 will also engage a preselected portion of the lever element 16. Should the ball engage the middle portion of the switch means 16, neither of the lamps will be illuminated, thereby indicating that the ball was well hit. On the other hand, should the ball 42 strike either side of the lever element 16, the switch on that side will be closed, thereby illumi nating a lamp of preselected color for indicating whether a slice or hook has been struck.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A mechanical golf practice apparatus comprising an elongated rectangular and hollow housing having an upper wall and a base, said upper wall being formed with an enlarged opening and a slot extending therefrom, a coil-spring supported in upright position within said opening and on said base for flexing laterally and extending above the plane of said upper wall, a ball secured to the upper end of said spring for swinging in different directions upon striking thereof an indicating means disposed for reciprocation in said slot, and means operatively connecting said ball to said indicating means including a cable having one end extending through said coil spring and connected to said 'ball and its other end connected to said indicating means.

2. A mechanical golf practice apparatus comprising an elongated rectangular and hollow housing having an upper wall and a base, said upper wall being formed with an enlarged opening and a slot extending therefrom, a ball means resiliently supported within said opening and on said base and extending above the plane of said upper wall, an indicatin means connected with said ball means and actuated thereby, said indicating means being disposed for reciprocation in said slot upon striking of said ball, said ball means including a ball integrally connected to the upper end of a coil spring supported on said base and laterally flexible by striking of said ball, a cable connecting said ball with said indicating means whereby when said ball is struck and the coil spring flexed said indicating means will move a predetermined distance in said slot to proportionately indicate the distance the ball travels. FREDERICK WILLIAM SONNETT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,677,557 Johnson k- July 17, .1928 1,975,368 Mikesell Oct. 2, 1934 2,018,291 Thompson Oct. '22, I935 

